How to transition to living on a single income

Whether you are having a baby, moving into a new place or preparing to start a new business, there may come a time when you and your significant other have to transition from living off two incomes to living off a single income. With the right strategy in place, anyone can survive this big lifestyle change. Learn how to begin making the shift with our tips below.

1. Talk It Out

In order for the transition to work, it's important for you and your partner to be on the same page. Part of that involves deciding what roles each person will play in the relationship once the change takes place. Will the partner who becomes the family breadwinner be responsible for paying for all of the bills and expenses?

Once you and your partner know what you want to do, it's a good idea to plan ahead. That means that you might have to focus on staying out of debt and steering clear of lifestyle inflation as you move toward living on a single income.

2. Re-Work Your Budget

It may seem obvious, but if you're going to begin living on a single income, your spending habits will probably need to change. If you don't have a strict budget in place right now, it might be wise to track your spending for the next few months. That way, you can figure out how much you're spending on necessities and luxuries.

Once you have a sense of where your current budget stands, you can crunch the numbers and create a new budget based around a single salary. As you trim your budget, you might have to cut out the big-ticket items first. Keep in mind however, that it's important to be practical and avoid sacrificing too much. You don't want to set up a budget you can't stick with.

When you sit down with your partner to discuss your budget, it's best to try to keep the conversation open-ended so that both of you have a say in how you're going to manage your money. And above all, remember that your transition should not eliminate your retirement savings strategies or your fund for emergency expenses.

3. Practice Living on Your New Budget

Once you've calculated how a potential change in your budget might work, it's a good idea to try living on just one income for a while. See if you can be content with less and try to think about some of the benefits that might come with the transition. For example, if only one person works, your family might have a more flexible schedule and more free time.

As you practice living under your new arrangement, you'll need to consider whether you can come to terms with your new lifestyle. Comparing your personal circumstances to your neighbors' or friends' living situations probably isn't a good idea. Remember that ultimately, you and your partner will have to do whatever works best for your family.

Final Word

Living on one income can be tough, and the real challenge is finding a balance between cutting your spending and continuing to save. If it doesn't work out, the partner who isn't working can always pick up a part-time job or a side hustle.

Related: Items you should stop wasting your money on

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15 things you can stop wasting your money on

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How to transition to living on a single income

1. Cable TV

With the advent of Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Apple TV, there's hardly a reason to splurge on a fancy DVR system or even basic cable — so long as you're willing to be patient.

Most shows are added at least 24-hours after airing and some networks won't give them up until eight days.

"If you travel abroad often, make sure you use credit cards without foreign transaction fees, otherwise you'll be paying an extra 3% to 5% on all your purchases."

Via Business Insider

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3. Extended warranties

Retailers push hard to sell you extended warranties — and conveniently pump up their sales figures at the same time.

Don't do it, Schrage warns.

"The only instance I'd recommend a warranty is in the case of a laptop. Otherwise, the warranties themselves can often cost as much as simply buying a used or new replacement for your item, or repairing it," he adds.

Via Business Insider

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4. The roof over your head

If you're blowing most of your income on a loft in Midtown, you're making a big mistake, says Jeremy Gregg, executive director of the PLAN Fund.

When buying a new cell phone, Sethi likes to pay a little bit more upfront by choosing the unlimited data and text messaging plan. He then sets a three-month check-in on his calendar, and analyzes his spending patterns after a few months to see where he can cut back.

You can use this method for any usage-based services, he says.

Via Business Insider

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6. Online shipping

Nearly all retailers offer some sort of option that gets your purchases to your doorstep without additional fees.

Zappos and L.L. Bean are among the rarest breed of businesses offering free shipping on every single purchase, but most companies will demand a minimum purchase.

To help track down deals on shipping, use Freeshipping.org. The site stores information on expiration dates, tells you much to spend to qualify, and lets you search by store name or product.

Personal finance expert Dani Johnson suggests you think twice before rushing out to buy Dad another tie this Christmas.

"You should make a pact with your friends and family to give back instead," Johnson says. "Pool a percentage of money you were going to spend on gifts and give a secret blessing to somebody who is truly in need."

Weight loss pills and supplements marketed as miracles for overweight couch potatoes are most likely traps.

"Not only are there enough pills and potions that you could start a new one each week, but the negative effects on your health outweighs the money you will waste," says nutritionist Rania Batayneh.

"This is a billion dollar industry and the truth is that a lean body does not come in a pill," Batayneh says.

Via Business Insider

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12. Lottery tickets

"Sure, you can (buy a lottery ticket) every once in a while just for fun, but never make a lottery purchase with any real expectation of winning," Schrage warns.

"The odds are significantly stacked against you, and why waste your hard-earned money on lottery tickets when you could be saving for retirement or treating yourself to a nice meal?"

Via Business Insider

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13. Brand new cars

"People get bored with cars quickly. They always want a new car and so they're always dealing with a car payment," says certified financial planner Michael Egan. "But it's a hugely depreciating asset. You don't want to be putting a lot of money into something that's going to be worth nothing after a certain number of years."

Look for used car options, which could save you a substantial amount of money. Check out Kelley Blue Book to get an idea of how much you should pay for a used car.

Another option is leasing a car. You can determine whether or not this is a good option for you by following this flow chart.

Via Business Insider

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14. Subscriptions

Subscriptions — to magazines, newspapers, and the gym — can add up, and oftentimes, we don't use them as much as we had originally planned.

Sethi recommends implementing what he calls the 'à la carte' method, which takes advantage of psychology to cut our costs.

"Cancel all the discretionary subscriptions you can: your magazines, TiVo, cable — even your gym," Sethi explains in "I Will Teach You To Be Rich." "Then, buy what you need à la carte. Instead of paying for a ton of channels you never watch on cable, buy only the episodes you watch for $1.99 each off iTunes. Buy a day pass for the gym each time you go."

It works for three reasons, Sethi writes: You're likely overpaying already, you're forced to be conscious about your spending, and you value what you pay for.